Buck Rogers - Countdown to Doomsday
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Buck Rogers had once fought in the cold war, a pilot sent into outer space to destroy a Russian weapons platform. He was successful, but his success destroyed the planet, as nuclear war was launched, and you went into a centuries long cryogenic sleep, abandoned by the people who could not retrieve you. In the centuries that he slept, Earth colonized the solar system. There are large groups of people on Mars, Venus and Saturn. The colonies once existed to bring resources back to an Earth that had problems sustaining itself.

But the intervening centuries brought a power shift. Now Earth is at the Mercy of the interstellar alliance RAM—formerly the Russian-American Mercantile, but now the superpower, based on asteroids surrounding the planet Mercury. Mercury exploits the Earth for resources, at the expense of Earth's population. Earth has fallen into barbarism, except for one small light—the New Earth Organization (NEO). These "rebels" consider themselves freedom fighters, and they are fighting for Earth's freedom from the interstellar powers. Awakened from centuries long sleep in the 25th Century, Buck Rogers becomes an ancient military hero and symbol of earlier times. As he is brought up to date, he decides to join the the NEO, to fight for his home planet.

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday is a role-playing game similar in gameplay, interface, and visual styles to the Dungeons & Dragons games by SSI, despite the completely different setting and sci-fi scenario. The player's first task is to create a party of six characters from a choice of five classes (Rocketjock, Warrior, Medic, Rogue, and Engineer) and six races (Human, Desert Runner, Tinker, Venusian, Martian, and Mercurian). Then, these six new NEO recruits are trained, and are thrust into the battle for Earth.

There are several navigation modes in the game. The player can navigate the space ship on a top-down map of the Solar System, choosing planets to land on. Hostile ships may attack the player-controlled ship in this mode. Landing on a planet usually positions the heroes on a local overworld map. Finally, navigation in individual locations (towns and hostile areas) is done in first-person perspective, with pseudo-3D environments. Combat is turn-based and is viewed from an isometric perspective; characters are represented as icons and can be freely moved on the battle field.

Trivia

The game's cover artwork, by Jerry Bingham, is shared with the cover to the Buck Rogers XXVc role-playing game boxed set and the cover of Dragon Magazine issue 157 in May 1990, officially launching TSR's contentious Buck Rogers product line.

As for many SSI-RPGs in the early ninetees a completly german version of this game was manufactured. The quality of the translations was very good and this version sold quite well in germany (despite being more expensive than the english version). Another fact is, that some production series of this game (most likely the first english one) included a "Buck Rogers" novel. Topic of this novel was the same story used in the game. As i read it, i can say that it was written quite well, adding much to the gaming atmosphere if it was read before or parallel to the game.

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Description from the packaging:

Welcome to the 25th Century!
It is the year 2456.

Humanity has spread across the terraformed planets and satellites of the solar system. Colonies drift through the upper regions of the Jupiter gas clouds and cities have been carved out of asteroids. Mars, the seat of power among the inner worlds, is home to the powerful, despotic Russo-American Mercantile (RAM). Its goal: The enslavement of the solar system.

But what of Earth?

The ancestral home of mankind now struggles to overcome the devastation of war and pollution. All hope for a return to its former glory lies with a daring band of rebels, the New Earth Organization (NEO) led by Buck Rogers.

Now, you and the members of your team can join Buck and his allies to rid the solar system of RAM tyranny!

Countdown to Doomsday is a detailed computer role-playing game based on TSR's new Buck Rogers XXV role-playing system, and uses a specially enhanced version of SSI's award-winning AD&D computer fantasy role-playing system.

Assemble a team of Rocketjocks, Warriors, Engineers, Rogues and Medis, recruited from Terrans, Martians, Venusioans, Mercurians or genetically engineered Desert Runners and Tinkers.

As your team explores the solar system, characters gain valuable skills such as piloting, zero-g maneuvering or demolition. These skills can prove more valuable than a good laser pistol in the toxic atmosphere of Venus or the sun-blasted surface of Mercury.

But hand on to that laser pistol! The 25th century is a dangerous place - especially for those who join Buck Rogers and NEO in the heroic fight for interplanetary justice and freedom!

Join Buck Rogers and the rebels of NEO in the struggle against RAM domination!

The vacuum of space is no place to lose a shoot-out! Use your kinetic cannons, missiles and lasers to blast galactic pirates and RAM ships into space dust.

Interplanetary space travel is managed with the aid of the solar system map. This invaluable instrument provides you with both "system" and "local" views.

Engage in tactical combat on the surface of Mars with rocket rifles, laser pistols, needle guns, grenades, even cutlasses or thin, keen-edged mono knives.

A detailed computer role-playing game based on TSR's new Buck Rogers XXVc game system.

Uses a specially enhanced version of SSI's award-winning AD&D computer fantasy role-playing system.

Pilot your spaceship across the entire inner solar system. Engage in ship-to-ship combat using lasers, missiles and kinetic cannons.

Battle a myriad of strange beings, including lightning reflexed Terrine battle gennies, galactic pirates and assault robots.

Spacesuits, Battle Armor, Breather Helmets, Special Defense Grenades and even a Rocket Belt, for quick movement in tactical combat, will help protect your characters from the elements and from their enemies.

Countdown to Doomsday was created by the SSI Special Projects Team- designers and developers of SSI's AD&D Gold Box computer game hits Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds, Champions of Krynn and Secret of the Silver Blades.

Playing time: 40-100 hours.


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/buck-rogers-countdown-to-doomsday
